The toiletry bag is often the last thing we pack — and the one that makes the suitcase overflow or gets stuck at security. Yet, when well thought out, it fits in a carry-on and holds all the essentials. The golden rule: a hanging bag (keeping the sink area free in hotels and hostels), 100 ml travel sizes, and nothing you can buy on location. Here's the complete list to ensure nothing is forgotten, the liquids rule for flights, and how to organise it all.
Our Selection of Toiletry Bags
A good travel bag is recognised by three things: a hook for hanging, compartments that separate wet from dry, and a water-repellent material that wipes clean with a sponge. Depending on the length of the stay, prioritise compactness or volume. Here are three hanging models that cover all cases; you can also browse our entire collection of travel toiletry bags.
The Complete Toiletry Bag Checklist
Here's everything that makes up a well-thought-out toiletry bag, grouped by category. The principle: one item per need, in travel size, leaving behind duplicates and "just in case" items that never get used.
Basic Hygiene
- Toothbrush (with case) + travel-size or solid toothpaste
- Soap or 100 ml shower gel — solid soap avoids the liquids rule
- Shampoo (travel size or solid) + conditioner if needed
- Deodorant — stick or solid passes without issue in carry-on
- Comb or small hairbrush
Face and Body Care
- Face moisturiser + sunscreen (essential in the tropics)
- Lip balm — dry cabin air and altitude dry out quickly
- Manual razor + travel-size shaving foam, or epilation kit
- Cotton buds, cotton pads, and a small pair of tweezers
Pharmacy and First Aid
- Painkillers, anti-diarrhoeal, plasters, and single-dose disinfectant
- Insect repellent if the destination requires it
- Your personal medications, in their box, with the prescription
This "health" section deserves its own pouch, separate from cosmetics: it's easy to find at a glance in case of need, and you won't be searching for a plaster at the bottom of the bag. A small dedicated medicine pouch solves the problem once and for all.
The Liquids Rule for Flights (the 100 ml Rule)
This is THE trap of carry-on luggage. Since 2006, any liquid, gel, cream, or paste carried in the cabin must fit in a 100 ml maximum container, and all must fit into a single one-litre transparent plastic bag (about 20 × 20 cm), presented separately at security. A half-empty 200 ml bottle? Refused: it's the container size that counts, not the remaining quantity. The solution is twofold: reusable travel bottles and solid cosmetics.
Two exceptions to know: medications (even beyond 100 ml, with a prescription) and baby food, allowed in reasonable quantities. Duty-free purchases made after security, sealed in their duty-free bag with the receipt, also pass. For everything else, the 100 ml rule is strict — better to decant in advance than to discard a bottle at security. Here's, product by product, what passes in the cabin and in what form; if in doubt about a specific airline, the official rules are detailed on AirHelp's liquids on a plane guide.
| Product | Allowed in cabin? | Recommended size | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquids, gels, creams, pastes | Yes, ≤ 100 ml/container | 100 ml travel bottles | All in 1 clear bag of max 1 L |
| Toothpaste, cream deodorant, foam | Yes, ≤ 100 ml | Travel size or solid | Solids don't count in liquid bag |
| Perfume, hairspray, aerosols | Yes, ≤ 100 ml | Sample / mini | Beyond 100 ml → in hold |
| Liquid medications | Yes, > 100 ml tolerated | Prescription at hand | Exception with medical proof |
| Manual razor, round-tipped scissors | Yes | — | Loose replacement blades prohibited |
Organising Your Toiletry Bag (and the Rest of Your Luggage)
An organised bag saves a lot of time: separate wet (shower gel, shampoo) from dry (brush, cotton pads), place the 100 ml items in their transparent bag for easy access at security, and hang the bag upon arrival. The same principle applies to the entire suitcase: when each category has its pouch, there's no need to unpack everything. Packing cubes for clothes perfectly complement a well-thought-out bag — the "one pouch per need" logic applied to the entire luggage.
Last check before closing the bag: keep only what you really use in a week. Hotels often provide soap and shower gel, and everything can be bought on site. To prepare the rest of your luggage without forgetting anything, follow our guide to properly preparing your travel bag.
FAQ — Travel Toiletry Bag
Can you take your toiletry bag in the cabin? Yes, provided each liquid is 100 ml maximum and fits in a one-litre transparent bag. Solid products (soap, solid shampoo, deodorant stick) do not count in this bag.
Solid format or travel size: which to choose? Solid (soap, shampoo, solid toothpaste) avoids the liquids rule and lightens the bag — ideal in the cabin. Liquid travel size remains practical for cream and shower gel. The right mix: solid for washing, 100 ml for care.
Where to place your toiletry bag in the luggage? The transparent bag of 100 ml items should be easily accessible (outer pocket) for security; the bag itself should be placed flat on top of clothes for easy retrieval without unpacking everything. For liquids > 100 ml (large perfume bottle, family shower gel), head to the hold. See also what is prohibited in cabin luggage.
